But Bochra Belhaj Hmida, head of the commission, said that “there is a real political will” to change the legislation.

“The role of the politicians is to raise the level of citizens’ awareness... It’s time,” she added.

In Tunisia, rare opinion polls suggest that a majority of people are opposed to equality in inheritance.

However, many parents already apply the principle by giving their daughters extra money while they are still alive.

‘Not simple’

Observers say there is a window of opportunity to change the law ahead of 2019 elections, thanks to Essebsi’s current hold on power and the consensus between his party, Nidaa Tounes, and the Islamists of the Ennahdha Party.

But given the subject’s sensitivity, the commission has put off publishing its proposals until after municipal elections in May.

Hmida said Essebsi wanted to “leave a very important trace in history”, echoing that of Tunisia’s first president Habib Bourguiba, who gave the country its groundbreaking personal status code.

Adopted in 1956, the code granted Tunisian women rights that were unprecedented in the Arab world.

Essebsi’s commission is also set to propose changes to laws on family status and passing on nationality to children.

It has plenty of work to do: it has identified some 2,500 texts as unconstitutional — including anal testing of homosexuals and prison terms for “attacks on morality”.

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The Jordan Times

The Jordan Times is an independent English-language daily published by the Jordan Press Foundationsince October 26, 1975. The Jordan Press Foundation is a shareholding company listed on the Amman Stock Exchange.